![]() | RidgefieldBrochure |
Brochure of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Washington. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
featured in
![]() | Washington Pocket Maps | ![]() |
covered parks
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ridgefield
National Wildlife
Refuge
The banks of the lower
Columbia River in
southwest Washington
have been alive with
activity for thousands of
years. Ancient human
civilizations thrived
here and shared the
land with an abundance
of animal and plant life.
Although the ancient
people have long since
departed their prehistoric
dwellings, wildlife
persists in an area with
generations of oak trees
and remnant river
channels. This place
is Ridgefield National
Wildlife Refuge.
Sandhill cranes in flight over the refuge / ©Jim Cruce
A River’s
Generosity
Creates a
Paradise for
Waterfowl…
Dusky
Canada geese
©Montana Waterfowl
Foundation
American bittern
©Vaughn Ruppert
Opposite:
River otters
©Jim Cruce
Below:
Virginia rail
©Wilson Cady
The Columbia River has long
been generous with its bountiful
resources. It has sustained the lives
of people, wildlife, and plants for
millennia. Today, the river continues
its tradition of giving by producing
hydroelectric
power and
providing places
for industry
and recreation.
Unfortunately,
some of the
demands on the
river come at a
high cost to fish,
wildlife, and their
habitats. Dikes,
dams, development, disturbance, and
pollution have taken their toll. Only
a few natural areas maintained for
wildlife remain along the river today.
Along the lower reaches of the
Columbia River lies Ridgefield
National Wildlife Refuge(NWR). The
5,218 acres of Refuge contain a lush
mixture of seasonal, semi-permanent,
and permanent wetlands, grasslands,
riparian corridors, and forests of
Douglas-fir and Oregon white oak.
These habitats, combined with a mild,
rainy winter climate, provide an ideal
environment for migrating birds and
wintering waterfowl.
Each fall, the Refuge comes alive
with thousands of ducks, geese, and
swans. These birds depart their
northern nesting areas and migrate
down the Pacific Coast or over the
Cascades to escape the harsh Alaskan
and Canadian winters.
On Ridgefield NWR,
they find precious resting
and feeding areas where
they spend the winter
months preparing to meet
the demands of spring
migration and the nesting
season.
Olympia
5
82
Washington
Yakima
12
Astoria LocatorLongview
Woodland
Ridgefield
NWR
Portland
…and also a
Paradise for
People
The “Blue Goose,”
designed by
conservationist
J.N. “Ding”
Darling in 1934,
is the symbol of the
National Wildlife
Refuge System.
97
Vancouver
84
Oregon
Visitors to Ridgefield NWR may
enjoy viewing a variety of wildlife
within a few minutes of the PortlandVancouver metropolitan area.
The Refuge landscape provides
santuary throughout the seasons for
waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, river
otter, black-tailed deer, coyotes, and
other species of wildlife. The Refuge
also offers a place for people to keep
in touch with their “wild” neighbors.
For many, this is a place to learn
about and appreciate the splendor of
the natural areas that once occurred
in abundance along the lower
Columbia River.
Ridgefield NWR is one of over
540 refuges in the National Wildlife
Refuge System managed by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
94 million acre Refuge System is the
only nationwide network of Federal
lands managed specifically for the
conservation of fish and wildlife.
Refuges serve to protect our nation’s
natural and cultural resources for
people of all ages and for generations
to come.
Dusky Canada
Geese: A Refuge
to Call Their Own
Western painted
turtle hatchling
©Joe Engler/USFWS
Background:
Western Canada
geese
©Jim Cruce
Ridgefield NWR was established
in 1965 to provide wintering habitat
for the dusky subspecies of Canada
goose. This large dark-breasted
goose had recently undergone a
crisis created by nature. A violent
earthquake rocked southern Alaska
in 1964 elevating the Copper River
Delta by six feet. In a matter of
minutes, the primary nesting area
for dusky Canada geese was
permanently changed.
Over time, the marshy, coastal
wetlands that had been nesting
habitat for dusky Canada geese were
invaded by willows and alders. The
resulting shrub thickets provided
perfect cover for hungry brown
bears and coyotes allowing them to
approach nesting geese without
being noticed. The altered habitat and
increased predation greatly reduced
the geese’s success in hatching and
raising their young. This resulted in
a dramatic decline in the dusky
Canada goose population.
Coyote
©Jim Cruce
Refuge volunteer
©USFWS
Although the effects of the
earthquake on the Copper River
Delta could not be reversed, measures
were taken by the Service to ensure
dusky Canada geese would have
secure wintering habitat. The
dusky Canada goose
winters along the lower
Columbia River and in
the Willamette Valley of
Oregon. Establishment
of Ridgefield NWR
secured vital wintering
habitat for geese.
Service biologists work
cooperatively with
state wildlife agencies
in the effort to monitor wintering
goose populations. Other important
species monitored on the Refuge
include painted turtles, bald eagles,
great blue herons, purple martins,
sandhill cranes, and the threatened
aquatic plant water howellia.
Monitoring of these native species
and other resources help guide Refuge
habitat management practices and
conservation efforts.
Ancient Village
of Cathlapotle Ridgefield's Rich
Cultural and
Natural History
Cedar basket
Courtesy of the
Clark County
Historical Museum
Long before Euro-americans arrived
on the lower Columbia River, its rich
natural resources sustained large
populations of native peoples. The
remains of a large Native American
village on the refuge bear testimony
to their existence and their enduring
relationship with the natural
environment. On November 5, 1805,
Lewis and Clark first observed
the village of Cathlapotle on their
way to the Pacific. The expedition
noted 14 cedar plankhouses at the
“Quathlapotle nation.” From the
Village, seven canoes paddled out
to inspect the strangers and trade
with them.
Returning in March, 1806, Lewis
and Clark stopped at Cathlapotle
for several hours and then camped
for the night at a “butifull grassy
place” about a mile upstream. This
campsite is also located on Ridgefield
NWR. It is known today as Wapato
Portage because it was here that
Clark described how the village
women collected wapato in a lake
and portaged it to the river. But the
site’s significance does not revolve
solely around its use as a campsite by
the famed explorers. Radiocarbon
dating has determined that human
habitation here dates back at least
2300 years, making it one of the
oldest sites in the active floodplain
of the Columbia.
Cedar ladle
Courtesy of the
Clark County
Historical Museum
Historical
painting courtesy
of Gene Ellis
Cathlapotle and Wapato Portage
are two of the few significant
archaeological sites on the Columbia
River that have withstood the
destructive forces of flooding, looting,
and development. Over the last
decade, archaeological research
on the Refuge has revealed
fascinating information about
the ancient environment
and how the people found
sustenance in the plant and animal
resources around them. Today, that
rich natural and cultural legacy is
permanently protected on Ridgefield
NWR and illustrated through the
Cathlapotle Plankhouse Project.
The concept of the Cathlapotle
Plankhouse Project was to build a
full-scale cedar plankhouse similar
to those visited by Lewis and Clark
at Cathlapotle over 200 years ago.
Compelled by immense interest
from the public to learn about the
Refuge’s cultural resources and the
approaching Bicentennial of Lewis
and Clark’s historic journey (20032006), the Refuge and numerous
partners embarked on this special
project. In March 2005, the
Cathlapotle Plankhouse became a
reality. The 37 by 78 foot western red
cedar structure stands as a testimony
of the innumerable hours contributed
by partners and volunteers dedicated
to constructing, maintaining, and
operating the plankhouse. Today, the
Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a setting
for Refuge environmental education,
resource interpretation, and special
cultural and historic events.
C
CARTY UNIT
k
Gee
ree
Oaks to Wetlands
Trail
Cathlapotle
Plankhouse
k Lak
asbac
Canv
O RE
GON
WA
SHIN
GTO
N
La
ke
Ri
ve
r
Refuge Headquarters
28908 NW Main Ave.
(360) 887-4106
e
N. Main Ave.
Carty
Lake
Ridgefield
t.
Pioneer S
R
rst
llhu
/Hi
ve .
S. 9t h A
To I-5
BACHELOR
ISLAND UNIT
d.
lum
Co
bia
Located approximately 500 yards from the
Carty Unit parking lot stands a modern day
representation of a traditional dwelling of
the Native Americans who once inhabitated
the Refuge. The Cathlapotle Plankhouse
was constructed to resemble the houses
described by Lewis and Clark when they
visited the village known as Cathlapotle
over 200 years ago. Special programs and
events are scheduled throughout the year.
For an updated list of events and activities,
check the plankhouse website at:
www. plankhouse.org or contact the
Refuge office.
Ridgefield NWR Map Legend
Refuge Units Open to the Public
(See Regulations about Closed Areas within these Units)
Refuge Units Closed to the Public
er
Riv
Kiwa
Seasonal
Hiking Trail
501
Carty Unit Cathlapotle Plankhouse A Lewis and Clark National
Historic Trail Site
Bachelor
Slough
Refuge Waterfowl Hunt Area
a
tL
s
Re
ke
(Consult Refuge Office for Regulations)
Refuge Headquarters
Parking
Lake
Campbell
ROTH
UNIT
Kilometer
4.2-mile Auto Tour Route
Prohibited Activities
Post
Office
Lake
1
1
Oaks to Wetlands Hiking Trail (2-miles)
Open Year-round
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Site
N
0
Observation Blind
Kayak/Canoe/Boat Route
(No launching facilities or routes located
on the Refuge.)
Lower River Road
(Dead End)
(Access from
Vancouver, WA)
Mile
Restrooms at Carty Unit, River “S” Unit
and Observation Blind Parking Lots
Kiwa Seasonal Hiking Trail (~1.5 miles)
Open May 1 - Sept. 30
RIDGEPORT
DAIRY UNIT
0
Lake Rive
r
RIVER ‘S’
UNIT
No Horseback Riding
No Pets Allowed
No Bicycling
No Jogging is allowed
on the Rrefuge
0
Miles
0
.5
Kilometers
Kiwa Trail
.5
Parking
Restrooms
©USFWS
Observation
Blind
River 'S' Unit
West
Lake
Moth mullein
(right), and selfheal (below) grace
the Refuge in the
springtime.
Accessible
North
East
Lake
Deep
Lake
Middle
Lake
Auto Tour
Route
At the Carty Unit (below), the
2-mile loop Oaks to Wetlands
Trail is open every day during
daylight hours. This trail crosses
uneven terrain through wetland
and forested habitats, offering a
slightly more challenging hike.
Numerous basalt outcroppings
and springtime wildflowers
create a beautiful backdrop for
one of the Refuge’s most scenic
areas.
Seasonal Trail
Open May 1 Sept. 30
South
East
Lake
N
B oo t
L ak e
Visiting
Year-round
©USFWS
Refuge
Boundary
At the River 'S' Unit (above), the
Kiwa Trail is open for use from May
1–September 30. The auto tour route
and observation blind are open yearround during daylight hours.
Trail
Seasonal Trail
Open Mar. 1–
Sept. 30
Refuge
Headquarters
In order to ensure the safety of
all visitors, and to preserve trail
vegetation and conditions, only
foot traffic is allowed on Refuge
trails. Bicycles or other forms of
transportation are not allowed.
Restrooms
Carty Unit
Parking
Ge e
Mayweed
is found in the
Refuge.
Oaks to
Wetlands Trail
Information
Cr
Cathlapotle
Plankhouse
eek
Duck
Lake
Carty
Lake
To Ridgefield
1 mile
Enjoying the
Refuge . . .
Raccoon
©Jim Cruce
. . . Along
the River 'S' Unit
Auto Tour
Route . . .
Wildlife
identification at
the viewing blind
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is
an exciting place for all to explore and
enjoy wildlife. Although
numerous species of
wildlife are always
present on the Refuge,
the best time to view
large numbers of ducks,
geese, swans, and
other migratory birds
is during the winter
months. More than 180
species have been seen
on the Refuge. For a complete list of
birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians,
and fish, consult the Refuge’s wildlife
checklist. Two units of the Refuge are
open to the public - the River 'S' Unit
and the Carty Unit.
Enjoy viewing wildlife while driving
the 4.2 mile Auto Tour Route and
use your vehicle as your personal
observation blind on wheels. Wildlife
viewing and
photography
from the road
is excellent,
allowing visitors
to encounter
wildlife with
minimal
disturbance.
The River 'S'
Unit is open
daily from
sunrise to
sunset. Please note gate closure times
posted at the entrance to the Unit.
©B. Harrison
Above: Mink / ©Jim Cruce
Opposite: Swans /©Jim Cruce
…During the Fall
& Winter
Cormorant
©Jim Cruce
Between October 1 and April 30, all
visitors must remain in their vehicles
while traveling the Auto Tour Route.
The large flocks of ducks and geese
using the Refuge during this period
become accustomed to seeing cars
and will allow vehicles to pass by, or
even stop, within a few feet without
taking flight. Your car becomes
your personal observation blind
on wheels. When everyone
follows this rule, the result is a
high quality birding opportunity
for all. During this time of year,
you may exit your vehicle only
at the Refuge entrance parking
lot and to use the observation blind
located along the tour route.
Please be a courteous driver and
obey the posted speed limit. Also, use
turnouts to stop and observe wildlife
while allowing other vehicles to pass.
“I slept but very little last night for the noise
kept up during the whole of the night by the
swans, geese…brant (and) ducks on a small
sand island…they were immensley numerous
and their noise horrid.”
Capt. William Clark,
Lewis and Clark Journal,
Lower Columbia River,
November 5, 1805
…During the
Spring & Summer
Coot with chick
©Jim Cruce
From May 1 to September 30, you
may walk or drive the Auto Tour
Route, access the observation blind,
and walk around the loop of the
Kiwa Trail. The Kiwa Trail (kee-wah
meaning “crooked”
in the Chinookan
language) offers
great bird watching
opportunities
during the early
spring songbird
migration. Later
in the summer,
you may observe
many local breeding
birds, including broods of ducks and
geese, and young swallows eagerly
eating insects out over the wetlands.
The trail is a compacted gravel path,
suitable for
wheelchairs
and strollers,
but is
otherwise
limited to
pedestrian
traffic.
Hunting
and Fishing
Refuge staff
examines
waterfowl/USFWS
Marsh wren
©Jim Cruce
Below:
Swans taking flight
©Jim Cruce
Belted kingfisher
USFWS
A portion of the River “S” Unit is
open to waterfowl hunting during the
regular waterfowl hunting season in
accordance with State and Federal
regulations. A Refuge-issued hunting
permit is required for each hunt day
and hunters must check in and out.
The use of well-trained retrievers is
encouraged to ensure that all birds
are retrieved.
Consult the
hunter hotline at
(360) 571-2015,
the Refuge
website, or the
hunt brochure
for current
regulations and
hunting
information.
Fishing is permitted during daylight
hours on the Carty Unit and a portion
of the River 'S' Unit. At the Carty
Unit, fishing is allowed year-round
according to State regulations in
the waters adjacent to the Oaks to
Wetlands Trail. Carp, catfish, crappie,
and bluegill are commonly caught.
Fishing is also permitted in the area
along the north side of the bridge
crossing Lake River at the entrance
of the River 'S' Unit. Visitors fishing
here must park at the entrance
parking lot at the visitor contact
station and walk to the fishing area.
Managing
Refuges for
Wildlife
Refuge staff takes
a closer look
©USFWS
As the fingers of urban sprawl and
development begin to reach new
areas, there is an ever-increasing
need to maximize the
availability of quality
habitat for wildlife.
This is the case at
Ridgefield NWR. As
less land is available for
wildlife habitat, refuge
managers use their
resources to produce
the best quality habitat
possible to support
larger and more diverse populations
of native plants and animals.
Like farmers who tend their crops,
refuge managers may intensively
manage wildlife habitat where
possible to maximize the production
of food resources needed by wildlife.
Wetland flooding and draining,
farming, grazing, mowing, invasive
species removal, tree planting, and
regulating visitor
uses are usually
common practices on
refuge lands. These
management “tools” are
used to improve habitat
specifically for wildlife.
Refuge education
programs and public
participation in
wildlife-dependent
recreational activities
provide valuable
experiences and help
develop an appreciation
and awareness of our
special places. Refuge
managers must find the
balance between the needs of refuge
visitors and the needs of wildlife.
Since “wildlife first” is the guiding
management principle on National
Wildlife Refuges, recreational
activities are regulated so that
negative impacts to wildlife and
habitat are minimal.
Great horned owl and owlet / ©Jim Cruce
Keeping
the “Wild” in
Wildlife Refuge
All other areas of the refuge within
the River 'S' Unit and the Carty Unit,
and the Bachelor Island, Roth, and
Ridgeport Dairy Units are posted
as closed sanctuary areas. This is
because of their importance to both
migratory and resident species of
wildlife. Pets, bicycling, horseback
riding, canoeing, boating, kayaking,
running, and all other activities not
specifically mentioned are not allowed
on the Refuge.
Howellia pond
©Joe Engler/USFWS
Refuges Create
Continuity for
Wildlife
Ridgefield NWR serves as the
administrative headquarters for four
national wildlife refuges in southwest
Washington. The others include three
refuges located in the Columbia
River Gorge National Scenic Area—
Steigerwald Lake NWR, Franz Lake
NWR, and Pierce NWR.
The three refuges in the Gorge are
small in acreage and are limited
in both visitor facilities and public
access areas. Information about these
refuges can be obtained by contacting
the Refuge Manager at 360/835 8767.
Steigerwald
Lake NWR
Steigerwald Lake NWR was
created in 1984 and contains 1,049
acres of historic lakebed and river
bottomland habitat. This refuge
supports anadromous fish, breeding
neotropical birds, and migrating
and wintering ducks, geese, and
other migratory birds. Steigerwald
Lake NWR is located just inside the
boundary of the scenic area, east of
the city of Washougal, and may be
viewed from the Columbia River Dike
Trail beginning at Steamboat Landing
in the city of Washougal.
Franz Lake
NWR
Franz Lake NWR was established in
1990 and contains a total of 552 acres.
Franz Lake’s system of streams,
backwaters, and wetlands provide
habitat for breeding, migrating,
and wintering waterfowl and other
wetland birds and raptors such as
bald eagles. The Refuge is a popular
place for wintering tundra swans,
which may be viewed from a turnout
on State Route 14.
Pierce NWR
The Service acquired Pierce NWR
through a land donation of 319 acres
made by the previous landowner,
Mrs. Lena Pierce. Today, the Refuge
has a total of 329 acres of habitat
that provide sanctuary for wintering
waterfowl such as Canada geese,
ducks, and other aquatic birds. One
of the last remaining chum salmon
runs in the Columbia River exists in
Hardy Creek, which flows through
the Refuge and empties into the
Columbia River. Hikers at the top of
neighboring Beacon Rock can get a
bird’s eye view of the Refuge.
Camas
©Joe Engler/USFWS
12
5
Longview
Woodland
Vancouver
Portland
Ridgefield
NWR
82
Washington
Steigerwald Lake NWR
Franz Lake NWR
Pierce NWR
14
84
Oregon
97
A Community’s
Contribution . . .
National wildlife refuges do not
stand alone in the effort to preserve
our nation’s natural and cultural
resources. In many ways, they
are just one small part of a larger
conservation community. Many
organizations and individuals
contribute thousands of hours to our
wildlife refuges and local communities
by planting trees, battling invasive
species, and providing visitor
outreach and education programs.
Friends groups serve as advocates
for our refuges and natural areas at
the local, regional, and national level.
Without these extra voices and hands
at work, conservation successes could
not reach the heights they reach
today. If you’d like to help, contact
the refuge office about becoming a
refuge volunteer or a member of
the Friends group.
Students discover micro-habitats with
hands-on activities / USFWS, Susan Saul
. . . for
Environmental
Education and
Interpretation
Visitors enjoying a day at the refuge
USFWS
River otters
©Jim Cruce
An environmental education guide,
resource materials, and space for
teachers and educational groups
are available for outdoor classroom
activities. Groups planning to visit
or to conduct educational activities
on the refuge are required to
make reservations in advance to
avoid conflicts with other groups
or scheduled refuge management
activities.
Throughout the year, special events
are held on the Refuge including
guided tours and interpretive
programs about the Refuge, its
wildlife, and management. Contact
the Refuge office or website for a
current schedule.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 457
28908 NW Main Avenue
Ridgefield, WA 98642
360/887-4106
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov
For Refuge information
1 800/344 WILD
http://ridgefieldrefuges.fws.gov
Washington Relay Service
TTY 1 800/833-6388
Voice 1 800/833-6384
Telebraille 1 800 833/6385
Federal Relay Service
TTY and Voice 1 800/877-8339
(available 8:00 am to 8:00 pm EST)
This brochure will be made
available in alternative formats
upon request.
Reprinted June 2007
Female grebe with chick/©Jim Cruce
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ridgefield
National Wildlife
Refuge